Car-coupling



'(No Model.) v i W. T. SIMS.

GAR GOUPLING-.

Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM T. SIMS, OF YAZOO CITY, MISSISSIPPI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 417,518, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed August 8, 1889- Serial No. 320,152. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. SIMS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Yazoo City, in the county of Yazoo and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Oar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will ena-. ble others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

I This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car-couplings; and it has for its object to improve upon the construction and to simplify and render more efficient in operation this class of devices.

The further and more immediate object of the present invention is to improve upon the construction of the car-coupler described in the application filed by me June 26, 1889, Serial No. 315,596, the said improvement consisting in providing a simple and efficient means whereby the coupling-link shall be retained normally in a horizontal position in readiness for coupling, and which will at the same time permit the free movement of the link within the draw-head caused by the jolting of the cars, thus relieving the link from the liability to be bent or broken.

To the above ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists in the peculiar combinations and in the novel construction,v arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically defined in the appended claim. The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, like letters of reference indicating like parts throughout the several views, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective View of portions of two cars coupled together by means of my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the draw-head. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the vertical sliding block removed.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the drawhead, provided at its forward end with a recess or chamber a, as shown.

In the side walls of the draw-head is supported the transverse pin or shaft B,to which is secured one end of the coupling-plate C,

which is made in a single casting, and pref- 6o erably of substantially the form shown, the rear edge of the plate being vertical and its front edge curved or in the form of an arc of a circle, as shown at C The said plate is pivoted upon the transverse pin B, which passes through ahole formed for its reception near the upper front corner or angle of the plate. The rear edge of the plate is provided with an extension 0 which serves as a handle for operating the coupler, as will be readgrooves are loosely fitted the edges of the vertically-moving block of metal E, the front face of the said block being provided with a central vertical slot 0 for the reception of the rear edge of the coupling-plate O.

It will be seen that the coupling-link F, when in position within the draw-head, is retained in place by the plate 0, and that the vertically-movable block E rests directly upon the rear end of the link, and thus retains the link in a horizontal position; but, the block being loosely fitted within the vertical grooves in the draw-head, it will be forced upward.

when an upward movement is imparted to the rear end of the link, caused by the j olting of the car, and that this relief that is afforded to the link will prevent the same from being either bent or broken by the sudden strain 5 that is imparted to it.

The operation of the coupler is simple and readily understood. The coupling-link of one of the cars to be coupled is forced against the curved front edge of the coupling-plate in the At the rear of the cham- 7 5 upon a transverse pin or shaft, a verticallylnovablo block of metal loosely fitted within guides formed at the rear of the recess in the draw-head and adapted to rest upon the rear end of the coupling-link, substantially as desoriloed, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM T. SIMS. Vitnesses:

FRANKLIN H. HOUGH, THOS. E. ROACH. 

